James C. Brooks, as president of the Southwark Foundry and Machine Company, also contributed a valuable technical knowledge. Though the youngest man on the Board—forty-five at that time—he had had large experience as an iron-worker, was known for remarkable executive ability, and was an intimate friend of Longstreth as well as of Williamson.
With Lemuel Coffin, Williamson had close business relations in the early days of the drygoods business, his great abilities eventually admitting him to partnership in the firm that had been Williamson, Burroughs & Company; and at this time he was head of the drygoods firm of Coffin, Altemus & Company, a vestryman of Holy Trinity Church, and devoted to church work.
Edward Longstreth's acquaintance with Williamson had not been so long as that of the other trustees, but he was a special friend of Mr. E. Y. Townsend, through whose recommendation and influence he consented to serve. He had a machine-shop experience to contribute, from the time he started as an
